Gas fueled safety lighter

ABSTRACT

A gas fueled safety lighter for the lighting of cigarettes and the like and operable in a manner to prevent accidental ignition of the lighter, the lighter consisting of a casing having a gas containing tank therein with a gas valve projecting upwardly therefrom, and a head assembly including a hinged finger piece and a closure cap actuated thereby and operable to cover the gas valve, the head assembly being moveable back and forth relative to the casing in a manner to engage and disengage a flange associated with the head assembly from the gas valve with the flange contacting and coacting with the gas valve in one position of the head assembly to permit gas to flow freely therethrough preparatory to ignition thereof, with the flange being spaced from the gas valve in the second position of the head assembly such that the lighter is inoperable, and a spring interposed between the casing and head assembly to resiliently bias the head assembly into the inoperative second position so as to normally retain the lighter in the inoperative position at all times except when an individual manually moves the head assembly into the operative position to ignite the lighter.

United States Patent Rusakowicz Aug. 5, 1975 l l GAS FUELED SAFETY LIGHTER and the like and operable in a manner to prevent acci- [76] Inventor: Richard Rusakowicz l5 Burr St dental ignition of the lighter, the lighter consisting of a Portland Conn. 06480 casing having a gas containing tank therein with a gas valve projecting upwardly therefrom. and a head as- [22] File i May 1 1 4 sembly including a hinged finger piece and a closure cap actuated thereby and operable to cover the gas [21] Appl' NO" 470,954 valve. the head assembly being moveable back and forth relative to the casing in a manner to engage and Cl 43 U disengage a flange associated with the head assembly [51] Int. Cl. 23q from the gas valve with the flange contacting and col Field of Search l/ l\ acting with the gas valve in one position of the head 43l/277 254. 255 assembly to permit gas to flow freely therethrough preparatory to ignition thereof, with the flange being [56] References Cited spaced from the gas valve in the second position of the UNITED STATES PATENTS head assembly such that the lighter is inoperable. and

3.148522 9/1964 Court 431/131 Spring interposed between the casing and $796,537 3,4974 Lauri 4mm sembly l0 rfisiliently bills the head assembly into the Primary E.\'mninerEdward G. Favors ABSTRACT A gas fueled safety lighter for the lighting of cigarettes inoperative second position so as to normally retain the lighter in the inoperative position at all times ex cept when an individual manually moves the head assembly into the operative position to ignite the lighter.

4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures TESS-O31 PATENTEU AUG 5 i975 GAS FUELEI) SAFETY LIGHTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to gas fueled lighters for cigarettes and the like. and more particularly to a novel and improved lighter having the safety aspect of the lighter being normally carried in an inoperative position with a definite positive movement required by an individual in operating the lighter to first place the lighter into an operative position and then to ignite the lighter.

2. Description of the Prior Art In conjunction with the smoking of various tobacco products, such as cigarettes, pipes, cigars and the like, gas fueled lighters are being increasingly extensively utilized by such smokers for purposes of igniting the tobacco in view of such lighters offering a great ano unt of convenience to such smokers. Such a lighter enables an individual to have a ready means of igniting the to bacco in a conveniently available manner with the lighter being easily fueled in a rapid and clean manner not requiring the use of former type liquid lighter fuel. However, one of the principal difficulties with presently available gas fuel conventional lighters is that it is possible to accidentally ignite the lighter when it is not desired, such as in the hands of small children, such as when the lighter is being carried in an individuals pocket, and the like.

While the prior art discloses devices intended to make gas fuel lighters of a safer design, such devices are of a complex structure often confusing to the individual as to the proper use thereof for operation of the lighter, and with such complex structure resulting in frequent mishaps and breakdowns of the mechanism requiring repair and maintenance. Accordingly, such devices have not been well received by the public with the Conventional gas fueled lighter still being the most popular even though it is prone to accidental ignition and even though it does lead to accidents or injuries of younger children who innocently pick up such lighter due to the attraction thereof when, for example, a parent accidentally leaves the lighter on a table or other place easily reached by a younger child.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention recognizes the safety deficiencies of presently available gas fueled lighters and provides a novel solution thereto in the form of a safety lighter having a normal inoperative position where the lighter would not function, it being necessary to make distinct movement of the head assembly of the lighter relative to the case to achieve actuation of the gas valve preparatory to igniting the lighter. This thus prevents accidental ignition of the lighter and defeats any attempt by a younger child who, unaware or unable to achieve relative movement of the portions of the lighter relative to each other, cannot place the lighter in the operative position and also effect the ignition thereof.

It is a feature ofthe present invention to provide a gas fueled safety lighter.

A further feature of the present invention provides a gas fueled safety lighter which is relatively simple in its construction and which therefore may be readily manufactured at a cost and using manufacturing methods competitive to those of conventional lighters and which can be retailed at a price competitively to such conventional lighters to encourage the widespread acceptance and use of the safety lighter over such conventional lighters.

Still a further feature of the present invention provides a gas fueled safety lighter which is ofa rugged and durable construction and which therefore may he guaranteed by the manufacturer to withstand many years of intended usage.

Yet still a further feature of the present invention provides a gas fueled safety lighter which is easy to use and reliable and efficient in operation.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the lighter in the inoperative normal position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the lighter in the operative position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the lighter in the operative position and ignited;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the lighter in the opera tive position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the flange and gas valve portions of the lighter in the inoperative position;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side clevational view of the gas valve, partially in cross-section, and illustrating interior details thereof. the valve being in the closed position;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to FIG. 6 but with the valve illustrated in the open position; and

FIG. Sis an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along Line 88 of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail there is illustrated a preferred form of a gas fueled safety lighter constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and designated generally in its entirety by the reference numeral 10 and is generally comprised ofa casing I l, a head assembly 12 moveable relative to the casing and mounted on the top thereof, and a gas valve 13 mounted on the top surface of the casing and adapted to be engaged and disengaged with portions of the head assembly.

The casing 11 includes a body 21 ofa generally oval configuration having side walls 22, horizontal bottom surface 23, horizontal top surface 24, a back end side wall 25, and a front end side wall 26. Formed interiorly of the casing adjacent the front end wall 26 is a fuel tank chamber 27 extending vertically therein, access to the fuel tank chamber being by valve 13 at the top end and by a filling valve (not shown) disposed in the lighter bottom surface 23 for purposes of filling the tank with fuelv Mounted rearwardly of fuel tank 27 is an upright flange 31 extending interiorly of the casing and having affixed thereto one end of a horizontally rearwardly extending coiled spring 32 having its opposite end in engagement with a flange like projection 33 which. in turn. is affixed to the head assembly 12 such that the spring resiliently biases the head assembly into a normal inoperative position relative to the gas valve 13 as will be later described.

The head assembly 12 is reciprocally mounted on casing top surface 24 for reciprocal movement in a forward and rearward direction along the longitudinal axis of the top surface. the rearward position being the inoperative position and the forward position being the operative position, these positions defined relative to gas valve 13. A body member 4] rests on top surface 24 and is connected to flange 33 for movement simultaneously therewith, the body member provided with a pivot pin 42 at the forward end thereof, the pivot pin having pivotally connected rearwardly thereof a finger piece 43 with the pivot pin having connected forwardly thereof a closure cap 44. the closure cap being actuated by the finger piece in a conventional manner whereby downward pressure on the finger piece, such as seen in FIG. 3, effects the pivoting opening of the closure cap 44 to expose gas valve 13. in addition, such downward movement effects rotation of friction sparking wheel 45 relative to fixed flint 46 to provide a spark in the conventional manner for igniting gas escaping from gas valve 13 when the lighter is in the operative position.

Affixed to front end of body member 41 centrally thereof and projecting forwardly therefrom is a flange 50 having a front edge 51 with a general V-shapcd notch 52 opening thereoutof and adapted to contact and coact with the gas valve 13 when the lighter is in the operative position, with the flange being spaced apart from the gas valve when the lighter is in the inoperative position.

The gas valve consists of a pair of upright hollow con centrically disposed inner and outer cylindrical members 61 and 62 defining therebetween a cylindrically shaped vertically extending guide slot 63 and with inner cylindrical member 6] defining interiorly thereofa gas flow passageway 64. An actuating head element 65 is provided having a nozzle portion and a gas passageway sealing element, the nozzle having a fiat top surface 7] surrounded by cylindrical side walls 72 terminating in an inverted dome shaped side wall 73 which, in turn, terminates in a cylindrical base 74 defining guides which are reciprocally received in guide slot 63 for re ciprocal vertical movement therethrough. Interconnecting guides 74 at their top end portions thereof is a horizontal circular plate 75 adapted to overlie the top end 76 of inner cylinder 61 when the valve 13 is in the closed position, the plate 75 provided with a passageway closing element 77 in the form ofa downwardly extending centrally disposed boss member adapted to fit within passageway 64 to seal the same when the valve is in the closed position. The plate is further provided with a plurality of circumferally spaced apart radially disposed gas flow apertures 78 of a size and spacing adapted to be closed by cylinder top end 76 when the plate rests thereon, A gas flow passageway 79 extends centrally through the nozzle and terminates in a compartment 80 spaced above plate 75 and in communication with apertures 78.

When nozzle 70 is moved upwardly relative to inner cylinder 61 such that plate 75 is spaced from top cylinder end 76, this being as illustrated in FIG. 7, gas is free to flow from tank 27 through passageway 64, through apertures 78, into compartment 80 and out of passage' way 79 for ignition. This is generally designated by the fuel flow arrows as seen in FIG. 7.

To retain nozzle in a seated normally closed position. there are provided in guide slot 63 a plurality of vertical springs each having one end affixed to a bottom end of the guide 74 with the opposite end affixed to the bottom portion of the guide slot with such springs resiliently retaining the nozzle 70 in the closed position sealing gas flow passageway 64. the lifting of nozzle 70 tensioning such springs and permitting gas flow through the nozzle with the release of the nozzle permitting the springs to reseat the nozzle in the normally closed position.

In operation, spring 32 normally retains flange 50 out of engagement with nozzle 70 of gas valve 13 such that the fuel is sealed in the tank 27. Thus, while operation of fingerpiece 43 will effect the sparking of friction wheel 45 against flint 46, there will be no gas escaping from the gas valve 13 such that the lighter is in an inoperative position.

When desired to light the lighter, an individual grips the casing H in one hand, such as between the right thumb and right forefinger, and then grips the head as' sembly 12 in the other hand and then exerts a compressing type movement of the hand in a manner to slide the head assembly 12 forwardly relative to the casing II to compress spring 32 and engage notch 52 of flange 50 with the dome shaped undersurface 73 of nozzle 70, this effecting the vertical elevation of the nozzle relative to the fixed cylinders 6] and 62 so as to remove seal 77 from passageway 64 and permit gas to escape from the fuel tank 27 through the associated passageways and out of nozzle passage 79. Operation of the hinged fingerpiece 43 in the normal manner with the lighter in this operative position will then effect a spark igniting the escaping gas for the use of the lighter in a conventional manner, such as for the lighting of cigarette 81. Upon completion of the lighting of the cigarette or the like, an individual need only release his hold on the lighter to permit the spring 32 to return the head assembly to the inoperative position relative to the casing. this freeing flange 50 from nozzle 70 and permitting springs 80 to return the nozzle into the gas sealed position relative to passageway 64.

It is to be understood that when in the inoperative position mere operation of the fingerpiece and effecting a sparking action will not effect ignition of the lighter as no gas will be escaping from the gas valve 13, such that when the lighter is carried in a pocket or carelessly handled by younger children there is no danger of ignition as compared to such dangers existing with conventional gas fueled lighters. Upon a simple forward movement of the head assembly relative to the casing the lighter is placed into the operative position where it is easily operated by an individual in a conventional type manner, and upon completion of such operation the lighter automatically returns to its safety inoperative position without the need for any actions on the part of the individual using the lighter. In this manner the lighter is always in the inoperative safety position except when specifically being utilized and operated by an individual so that the individual cannot carelessly forget to place the lighter into the inoperative safety position upon completion of usage since such is automatically performed by the lighter.

it is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that this invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification as various changes in the details of construction as to shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of the novel concepts thereof, or the scope of the sub-joined claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A gas fueled safety lighter intended for use in the lighting of cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and the like, the lighter comprising:

a casing having a top surface, a bottom surface, and depending side walls including a front end and a back end;

a fuel tank chamber disposed interiorly of said cas ing,

a gas valve mounted to said top surface of said casing and in communication with said fuel tank chamber for selectively sealing and unsealing gas flow from said chamber;

a head assembly mounted on said casing top surface and reciprocally moveable thereon in a direction toward and away from said front end thereof between an operative and an inoperative position relative to said gas valve, said head assembly operative to actuate said gas valve to an open position when in the operative position and said head assembly being spaced from and out of contact with said gas valve when in the inoperative position;

actuating means mounted on said head assembly adapted for contacting and coacting with said valve assembly when said head assembly is in the operative position; and

resilient spring means interposed between said casing and said head assembly to resiliently bias said head assembly into said inoperative normal position spaced from said gas valve, said spring being compressed upon movement of said head assembly relative to said casing into said operative position for engagement with said valve with said spring returning said head assembly to said inoperative normal position upon release of those forces effecting said movement of said head assembly into said operative position.

2. The gas fueled safety lighter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said head assembly comprises a body member mounted for reciprocal movement along said top surface of said casing along the longitudinal axis thereof, said body member having a front end and a back end, a pivot pin associated with said front end and having projecting rcarwardly therefrom and pivotally connected thereto a fingerpiece adapted for engagement by an individuals finger, a closure cap connected to said pivot pin forwardly thereof and actuated by said fingerpiece between an open and a closed position relative to said casing top surface in a manner to selectively expose and cover said valve, a friction sparking wheel and a flint mounted on said body member adjacent the front end thereof and operable in a conventional manner upon actuation of said fingerpiece to provide igniting sparks in the area of said valve, and wherein said valve actuating means associated with said body mem ber comprises a flange member projecting outwardly from said front end of said body member and terminating in a free front edge, and a generally Vshaped notch defined in said front edge and adapted to contact and coact with said valve when said head assembly is in the operative position, said flange being spaced from said valve when said assembly is in the inoperative position.

3. The gas fueled safety lighter as set forth in claim 2 wherein said gas valve comprises a nozzle and a base, said base being affixed to said top surface of said casing with said nozzle being reciprocally mounted for vertical movement on said base, said base comprising:

a first hollow cylindrical member affixed to said casing top surface and projecting upright therefrom;

a second hollow cylindrical member affixed to said top surface and disposed concentric with said first cylindrical member inwardly thereof and having an exterior diameter less than the interior diameter thereof;

an upright cylindrical shaped guide slot defined between said first cylindrical member interior surface and said second cylindrical member exterior surface;

a passageway extending centrally axially through said second cylindrical member in communication with said fuel tank chamber and terminating adjacent the top end of said second cylindrical member;

and wherein said nozzle comprises:

a head member consisting of a flat top surface. de-

pending cylindrical side walls, and an inverted dome shaped under surface;

a cylindrical hollow guide member formed integrally with said head member extending downwardly from said dome shaped undersurface and being of a hollow configuration, said guide member including side walls of a size and configuration adapted to be reciprocally received in said base guide slot for guiding the vertical movement of said nozzle relative to said base;

a cylindrical passageway defined interiorly of said guide member opening out of the bottom end thereof and of a diameter to telescopically receive said second cylindrical member therein;

a plate extending across said guide member passageway intermediate said guide legs and in a position to rest on said top end of said second cylindrical member when said nozzle is in a closed position relative to said base;

a sealing boss member disposed centrally of said plate member and extending downwardly therefrom and adapted to seal said second cylindrical member fuel flow passageway when said plate rests on said second cylindrical member top end;

a plurality of circumferally spaced apart radially dis posed apertures formed in said plate and extending therethrough, said apertures defining a circle of a diameter greater than the diameter of said second cylindrical member passageway and less than the exterior diameter of said second cylindrical member with the top end of said second cylindrical member sealing said apertures when said plate is resting thereon;

a passageway extending through said head portion in communication with said top surface and said apertures of said plate; and

a plurality of spring members disposed in said guide slots and having one end affixed to the bottom ends of said guide members with the opposite ends affixed to the bottom portions of said guide slots, said springs resiliently biasing said nozzle into sealed engagement with said base with said plate apertures and said sealing member sealing off said fuel flow passageway. upward movement of said nozzle relative to said base effecting separation of said plate member from said second cylindrical member to permit fuel to flow through said second cylindrical member passageway, through said plate aper tures. and through said head portion passageway for ignition 4. The gas fuel safety lighter as set forth in claim 3 operative position on said base.

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1. A gas fueled safety lighter intended for use in the lighting of cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and the like, the lighter comprising: a casing having a top surface, a bottom surface, and depending side walls including a front end and a back end; a fuel tank chamber disposed interiorly of said casing; a gas valve mounted to said top surface of said casing and in communication with said fuel tank chamber for selectively sealing and unsealing gas flow from said chamber; a head assembly mounted on said casing top surface and reciprocally moveable thereon in a direction toward and away from said front end thereof between an opeRative and an inoperative position relative to said gas valve, said head assembly operative to actuate said gas valve to an open position when in the operative position and said head assembly being spaced from and out of contact with said gas valve when in the inoperative position; actuating means mounted on said head assembly adapted for contacting and coacting with said valve assembly when said head assembly is in the operative position; and resilient spring means interposed between said casing and said head assembly to resiliently bias said head assembly into said inoperative normal position spaced from said gas valve, said spring being compressed upon movement of said head assembly relative to said casing into said operative position for engagement with said valve with said spring returning said head assembly to said inoperative normal position upon release of those forces effecting said movement of said head assembly into said operative position.
 2. The gas fueled safety lighter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said head assembly comprises a body member mounted for reciprocal movement along said top surface of said casing along the longitudinal axis thereof, said body member having a front end and a back end, a pivot pin associated with said front end and having projecting rearwardly therefrom and pivotally connected thereto a fingerpiece adapted for engagement by an individual''s finger, a closure cap connected to said pivot pin forwardly thereof and actuated by said fingerpiece between an open and a closed position relative to said casing top surface in a manner to selectively expose and cover said valve, a friction sparking wheel and a flint mounted on said body member adjacent the front end thereof and operable in a conventional manner upon actuation of said fingerpiece to provide igniting sparks in the area of said valve; and wherein said valve actuating means associated with said body member comprises a flange member projecting outwardly from said front end of said body member and terminating in a free front edge, and a generally V-shaped notch defined in said front edge and adapted to contact and coact with said valve when said head assembly is in the operative position, said flange being spaced from said valve when said assembly is in the inoperative position.
 3. The gas fueled safety lighter as set forth in claim 2 wherein said gas valve comprises a nozzle and a base, said base being affixed to said top surface of said casing with said nozzle being reciprocally mounted for vertical movement on said base, said base comprising: a first hollow cylindrical member affixed to said casing top surface and projecting upright therefrom; a second hollow cylindrical member affixed to said top surface and disposed concentric with said first cylindrical member inwardly thereof and having an exterior diameter less than the interior diameter thereof; an upright cylindrical shaped guide slot defined between said first cylindrical member interior surface and said second cylindrical member exterior surface; a passageway extending centrally axially through said second cylindrical member in communication with said fuel tank chamber and terminating adjacent the top end of said second cylindrical member; and wherein said nozzle comprises: a head member consisting of a flat top surface, depending cylindrical side walls, and an inverted dome shaped under surface; a cylindrical hollow guide member formed integrally with said head member extending downwardly from said dome shaped undersurface and being of a hollow configuration, said guide member including side walls of a size and configuration adapted to be reciprocally received in said base guide slot for guiding the vertical movement of said nozzle relative to said base; a cylindrical passageway defined interiorly of said guide member opening out of the bottom end thereof and of a diameter to telescopically receive said second cylindrical member therein; a plate extending Across said guide member passageway intermediate said guide legs and in a position to rest on said top end of said second cylindrical member when said nozzle is in a closed position relative to said base; a sealing boss member disposed centrally of said plate member and extending downwardly therefrom and adapted to seal said second cylindrical member fuel flow passageway when said plate rests on said second cylindrical member top end; a plurality of circumferally spaced apart radially disposed apertures formed in said plate and extending therethrough, said apertures defining a circle of a diameter greater than the diameter of said second cylindrical member passageway and less than the exterior diameter of said second cylindrical member with the top end of said second cylindrical member sealing said apertures when said plate is resting thereon; a passageway extending through said head portion in communication with said top surface and said apertures of said plate; and a plurality of spring members disposed in said guide slots and having one end affixed to the bottom ends of said guide members with the opposite ends affixed to the bottom portions of said guide slots, said springs resiliently biasing said nozzle into sealed engagement with said base with said plate apertures and said sealing member sealing off said fuel flow passageway, upward movement of said nozzle relative to said base effecting separation of said plate member from said second cylindrical member to permit fuel to flow through said second cylindrical member passageway, through said plate apertures, and through said head portion passageway for ignition.
 4. The gas fuel safety lighter as set forth in claim 3 wherein said notch portion of said flange of said body member is adapted to contact and coact with said dome shaped bottom surface of said valve head portion when said head assembly is moved into said operative position, said notch effecting the vertical elevation of said nozzle relative to said base member to effect gas flow therethrough; and wherein return of said head assembly to said inoperative position effects separation of said flange member from said nozzle with said springs in said guide slots returning said nozzle to a sealed inoperative position on said base. 